Top 5 Players Denver Broncos Should Target in 1st Round of Draft

The Denver Broncos are currently sitting at the end of the first round in the 2016 NFL draft. With the 31st-overall selection in the draft, the Broncos could go in several different ways when their pick comes up.

During the offseason, the Broncos have tried to find the best pieces for the team while working within the constraints of the salary cap. They’ve lost key free agents but have been able to add some talent via the veteran pool of players. Now it’s time for them to add more talent from the crop of rookies coming into the NFL this year.

By the time their pick comes up, several moves, trades and transactions might have already happened. This means the Broncos need to have a fluid plan for their first pick. They’ll need to be creative with their decision if multiple players they’ve targeted are already gone by the time it’s their turn.

General manager John Elway understands how to find quality players late on the first day.

“You never know how it’s going to fall, especially being [at No.] 31. We love being there. It’s a good place to be (laughing). There are going to be a lot of different options there, so we’ll see how it all takes shape.”

Here are the top five players the Broncos should target in the first round of the draft.

5. S Karl Joseph, West Virginia

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Believe it or not, safety is a position the Broncos should address at some point during the league’s annual selection process.

The Broncos have two great starters at the position in free safety Darian Stewart and strong safety T.J. Ward. However, Stewart is entering the final year of his contract in 2016, and Ward is a player with such a physical style that it increases his risk for injury.

West Virginia safety Karl Joseph could be a player under the Broncos' consideration.

It’s easy to see a lot of Ward in Joseph’s game. Like Ward, Joseph arrives at the play with natural violence. He loves to hit and is not afraid of contact. Instead, he’s an intimidating presence who can play close to the line of scrimmage to help support the run.

Joseph might be better than Ward in coverage. In fact, he’s got some Stewart-like ability as well. Like Stewart, Joseph can patrol in coverage and find the ball in flight. He does a good job of timing his move as the pass is coming in and can knock passes away without committing a penalty.

Elway likes the depth in this draft at certain positions—including in the secondary.

“I think at both offensive and defensive lines and in the secondary, there are a lot of good football players in this draft.”

Joseph is known as a hardworking player and could be a great fit for a Broncos defense that is still likely to be the best in the league.

4. DT Chris Jones, Mississippi State

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The defensive line is going to have a different look in 2016. One of last year’s starting defensive ends, Malik Jackson, moved on in free agency, and the Broncos defense won’t be the same without him.

Earlier this month, the Broncos added veteran Jared Crick at the position, but he lacks the upside of Jackson. Having a pass-rushing presence at defensive end was a fine asset that Jackson provided, and the team should want to find a player with a similar skill set.

The Broncos might want to add Mississippi State defensive tackle Chris Jones early in the draft.

A full-time starter for just one year, Jones has intriguing upside as a prospect with All-Pro potential. Jones can play all across the line of scrimmage and is agile enough to get around blockers with finesse. He’s also strong enough to get through blockers with incredible strength and provide the extra pass rush from the edge that every team is looking for.

However, Jones is not the sum of his parts and was only able to snare the quarterback 8.5 times in three years with the Bulldogs.

Elway knows the team has to see potential while also projecting production.

“That’s part of the game—trying to figure out the potential there and why maybe he hasn’t reached his potential at a certain point in time, the production you see right now and how much upside [he has]. There are so many different things with every position that goes into the equation of where you stack a guy on your board and where you would take him.”

Elway summarized, “That’s part of the game. That’s part of hopefully why we’re able to pick the right guys and have guys that we draft that stay here for a long time.”

3. OG Cody Whitehair, Kansas State

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The Broncos have worked diligently this offseason to fix their offensive line and could continue that effort in the first round of the draft.

Earlier this year in free agency, they added right tackle Donald Stephenson and left tackle Russell Okung. They will move last year’s second-round pick, Ty Sambrailo, inside to guard this year, and fellow second-year player Max Garcia will also compete for one of the starting guard spots.

Both Louis Vasquez (right guard) and Evan Mathis (left guard) are no longer with the team, and the interior of the offensive line could use a player with perennial Pro Bowl upside.

Kansas State offensive guard Cody Whitehair would immediately provide a boost for the Broncos as their first pick.

With incredible strength and fluid athleticism, Whitehair is a versatile player who can play at a high level. In college, Whitehair started several games at left tackle (26), left guard (22) and even a few at right tackle (three). His best fit in the NFL is inside at guard, which is why the Broncos should have a ton of interest.

Whitehair has the savvy and work ethic of a 10-year veteran. A team-first guy, Whitehair showed toughness, strength, athleticism and aggression on tape at Kansas State. He’s technically sound as a blocker and can even be used effectively as a pulling guard, where he can latch onto defenders at the second level.

Elway’s draft strategy is "best player available," and he does not want to put the Broncos into a situation where they have to reach in the draft for a team need.

“A lot of times when you get in trouble is when you reach. As long as you take what we feel is the best player available at the time—now if it falls into a position of need, then it’s all the better. Our thought process is to make sure that we’re drafting people that are going to have good careers in the NFL.”

2. QB Paxton Lynch, Memphis

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The biggest need the Broncos have has to be at the quarterback position, which is why we may see them make a move to add a passer in the first round.

There may be a trade finalized between the Broncos and the San Francisco 49ers for Colin Kaepernick. However, if the team doesn’t add a veteran like Kaepernick or Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor through a trade, then the draft is where to find a potential starter.

Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch may fall within the Broncos' range in the first round and would be a welcome addition for the team.

In order to secure Lynch, the Broncos would likely have to move up in the draft. There’s a chance he could go off the board within the first 15 picks, but if he slides somewhere near the 20th pick the Broncos should strike.

Lynch has the size of Brock Osweiler but provides better upside than the former Broncos quarterback who chose to sign with the Houston Texans in free agency. While Lynch is tall like Osweiler, he’s a much better athlete and a more dangerous runner in the open field. Lynch has a rocket arm like Osweiler but doesn’t have the same mechanics issues or the bad footwork that plagued Osweiler’s game.

Coming from a pass-happy Memphis system, Lynch was featured primarily out of the shotgun formation and will have to prove that he can drop back from under center and make reads while the rush is crashing in.

The first two picks of the draft are very likely to be quarterbacks Jared Goff (California) and Carson Wentz (North Dakota State). That leaves Lynch as the next-best quarterback on many boards—including that of the Broncos. Even the smallest run on the quarterback position after the top two picks could see Lynch scooped up well before the Broncos pick.

Elway is well-aware that runs on a certain position (like quarterback) could happen in the first round.

“When those runs start, you never know where they’re going to be. You just have to sit there and be patient. I think that we feel like there are going to be some good players available for us at 31.

“There are so many things that come up before the draft and until you get to draft day, you don’t know exactly how it’s all going to fall," Elway continued. "That’s kind of the exciting part of draft day.”

1. DT Robert Nkemdiche, Ole Miss

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The need along the defensive line could be addressed by drafting Chris Jones from Mississippi State, but the Broncos may look to another defensive tackle from Mississippi to fill the need.

Robert Nkemdiche from Ole Miss might be the most naturally gifted defensive tackle in this draft class.

Measuring in at nearly 300 pounds, Nkemdiche has a physique that would make a Greek god jealous. In a historic defensive line class, Nkemdiche may be the quickest off the line of scrimmage. He’s got incredible burst on his way to the play and can change direction in pursuit without losing much momentum.

There are a few question marks about Nkemdiche entering the draft. First, his production (only seven sacks in three years) does not match his physical skill set. Second, effort is often an issue with Nkemdiche if the play goes away from him. Finally, there’s the arrest for marijuana possession that got him suspended for the Rebels' 2015 bowl game.

Elway revealed how the team looks at players with character concerns.

“First of all, we evaluate all of the character concerns and figure out what they are. Is it something that is a trait, or is it something [where] a young guy makes a mistake and you grow through it? Every situation is different there.”

With first-round picks like Bradley Roby (2014) and Shane Ray (2015), the Broncos have shown a willingness to take chances on players with character concerns in the pre-draft process.

“I think one of the best things that we do have is our locker room. We have a lot of good guys with the right mentality. That locker room is a real good locker room right now. We want to continue to add good people to that locker room.”

All quotes and injury/practice observations obtained firsthand. Record/statistical information provided by the Broncos' media department unless otherwise noted.

Contract and salary-cap information provided by Spotrac. Transaction history provided by Pro Sports Transactions. Draft grades provided by NFLDraftScout.com.